Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU vs. USF Postgame Quotes
December 14, 2013 | Cowgirl Basketball
Dec. 14, 2013
Oklahoma State Coach Jim Littell
Opening Statement
“I was pleased with our team. I thought we did a lot of positive things tonight. We were a little sluggish offensively compared to what we normally are, but we've been off for 13 days. When the ball wasn't going in and we were struggling a little bit offensively, we continued to guard on the other end and didn't relinquish any lead. We've always told our team that if we're struggling a little offensively, to play harder on the defensive end. I thought we did that. I thought we did a pretty good job of recognizing scorers. Inga (Oreghova) had four threes, but she had to have 15 shots to get that. Number 10 is a talent, very athletic, but she had to use 21 shots to get her 18 points. I think any time you hold a team like that in the 50s, you've done a good job defensively.”
On OSU's athleticism
“We thought they were pretty athletic, too, and pretty fast. We knew it was going to be a challenge. I thought both teams played a little tired at times. We need to get back in the flow of where we are playing a couple times a week and all that. I think there were spots where we wore them out. Both Bias and Martin did a nice job of playing in transition. And then we did some good things to iso Britt and get her the ball and allow her to score as well.”
On if the team is ready for tougher tests
“You say tougher tests, but this was a team that went to the NCAA tournament last year and beat a senior-laden Texas Tech team on their home floor. They took Cal, I believe, to overtime, I may be wrong on that. I know they took them to the last two or three minutes of the game. And just barely lost to Cal, and Cal went to the Final Four. And this group returned three or four starts. We feel like we beat a good team, and played a very good team tonight. It gets more difficult with Michigan State and a very athletic Georgia Tech team over in Puerto Rico. I think the three games – especially this game, being able to play in a great venue such as this – will help us come Big 12 tournament time and NCAA time.”
Guard Tiffany Bias
On being off for 13 days
“We need to run our offense and execute plays just to get the feel of playing again. I think we're fine once we just start playing for a couple of minutes.”
On how they handled the USF outside shooting in the second half
“Like coach said, we kind of got lazy for a second we weren't coming all the way out when we knew they were deep shooters. They got hot and that's what happens, you have to adjust to what's happening out on the floor. Once we saw that, we adjusted our offense and made sure we got up high. We traded baskets with them because that's how you make it a game. I think we just had to shut them down on the defensive end and it was fine.”
On being comfortable where the team is at this point in the season
“Like Brittney said, we are never satisfied with anything we do so we can always get better and be better as a team. We believe in each other and we know that we can be nothing but better.”
On keeping the focus as a leader
“I think we're all on the same page and we all want the same thing. We have the same goal in mind. We have to be focused in practice and every little thing that we do. The coaches really harp on us for being focused for every pregame and every little thing that we do so we will be ready for every game we have.
Guard Brittney Martin
On being named MVP of the first women's game of the tournament:
“I think it's pretty cool. I'm happy with it but I'm never going to be satisfied. I'm really happy that I got it.”
On taking advantage of the month without classes:
“I think it's good for us because it's stressful being a student-athlete. You have to manage your time. Now, we can spend our time focusing in the gym on our own and have a lot of time to focus on ourselves.”
